On Thursday, Nov. 12, 2024, Central Bucks West senior Emily Ladley and Peyton Cramer were recognized for committing to continue their basketball careers at the collegiate level.
Peyton Cramer – McDaniel College (Basketball)
Major: Physics/Civil Engineering
Final list of colleges: McDaniel, Gwynedd Mercy, Widener
Reasons for choosing McDaniel: “Overall, the school is a great school, and the campus is beautiful. The coaching staff and team just are really friendly, and it made me feel at home from the day I stepped on the campus.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in basketball at the collegiate level? “It was probably freshman year of high school, but I’ve dreamed of playing in college since kindergarten when I started playing, but I really knew freshman year.”
Coach Zach Sibel says: “Peyton has been a really fun kid to coach. She’s the kind of kid that listens to every word and then does her best to go do it and to go work on it. My favorite part of coaching is to see kids
grow as players and people. The last four years I’ve really seen Peyton do both, growing in both areas. Her growth in terms of basketball has been awesome. There is this transformative moment for me in coaching Peyton. Last year towards the end of the season, we talked about individual goals. We had two games left, and I asked the girls – ‘What’s your individual goal for the last two games?’ We told them - make them statistical, so we can analyze it, we can track it. I’ll never forget – Peyton was the third girl to go, and she said, ‘Coach, I want to lead the team in assists.’ I knew before, but I think that’s a testament to who she is.
“This year, what I think has gotten her to that college level is her ability to see the game. Not just facilitate at the one but really expand on her ability to shoot the ball and to create some different shots. She’s been awesome in that capacity with creating offense for her team but also creating offense for herself.
“I think McDaniel is getting a really, really good kid. They’re getting a gritty kid who’s going to compete at all times, and I think that’s a staple for any successful high school or college basketball player, so the sky’s the limit. To be honest, she hasn’t come close to peaking. She’s only going to get better with every year she plays and every second she practices. That’s who she is a kid and as a player.”
About Peyton:
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite TV show: Grey’s Anatomy
Favorite artist: Mac Miller
Emily Ladley – Juniata College (Basketball)
Major: Exercise Science
Final list of colleges: Juniata, Immaculata, Alfred, Drew, Lycoming
Reasons for choosing Juniata: “It felt like home, and as soon as I met the coach and all the girls, I fit in so well, and they just made me feel like part of their family already and so quickly. The school is beautiful. I loved the small size.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in basketball at the collegiate level? “I started playing when I was in first grade, and my dad and grandfather both played all the way through college, so that’s always been an inspiration for me, so it’s been a big part of my life. My dad’s been my coach since third basically, and he’s just always pushed and worked with me. I definitely knew I wanted to play through middle school and high school.”
Coach Zach Sibel says: “Emily has really shown growth. We knew the moment she walked in the gym that she could shoot the basketball. Her growth has been in a sense of maturity and connectedness that she
brings. She’s really matured in terms of seeing the varsity game and seeing the speed of the game. I think her adjustments and improvement there has really spoken for it. She’s been rock solid. She shoots the ball at a really high clip, she’s taking care of the ball, and her evolution on the defensive end really makes her a kid that’s going to eat minutes and going to play a lot of minutes. I’m incredibly proud of Emily’s ability to take coaching. She is the daughter of a coach, so she knows the game, she can see the game, and that adjustment to the speed and physicality has been awesome.
“Juniata is getting a guard that can really light it up and can light it up from deep. She’s a kid that’s only going to get better. Her basketball IQ is really high, and she’s going to continue to work to earn everything that she’s got just as she’s done at CB West. There’s that age-old saying – ‘Earned not given,’ and it’s a game where you have to produce. She’s shot the ball really, really well, especially in this later stretch of the season. Emily is a great teammate, a great team player, a great kid to coach, and someone that’s going to do awesome things at Juniata.”
About Emily:
Favorite food: Any seafood
Favorite TV: Suits
Favorite artists: Tate McRae & Mac Miller
- Log in to post comments
